Binder



March 95 1937. R. B, M. TAYLO BINDER Filed May- 2l, 1935 LLI/lll /l l lll Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE BINDER Robert B. M. Taylor, Newark, N. J., minor, by mesne assignments, to Parallex Corporation, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 21, waasoml No. 22,495

2 Claims.

The invention relates to binders. and more particularly to a binder of the type using a spirally wound wire, succeeding convolutions of which pass through a line of spaced openings in the 5 leaves of a book.

Binders of this general type are now being extensively used, notwithstanding that they have certain objectionable characteristics. With such binders, the spiral is assembled in the book'structure Aby turning the spiral while threading it through the openings in the leaves, and the spiral ordinarily is free to turn after the assembly of the book and while it is in use.

With such spiral binders, every portion of each coil or convolution has a pitch axially of the spiral, so that with a reversal or turning of the leaves of a book, each leaf has a trend, or component of movement axially of the spiral. This movement, if the leaf be held firmly in the hand during the turning thereof, may tear the paper adjacent the openings therein, or adjacent some of said openings.

Various expedients have been proposed to prevent accidental turning of the spiral such as by 5 so forming the endswthereof as to prevent their passing through the openings in the leaves, or to engage some other portion of the binding in a manner to prevent such turning.

With the above conditions in mind, I have pro- 30 vided a binder embodying therein a binding wire which is not of itself a spiral but consists of a spiral so 'modified in form as to prevent accidental turning thereof in an assembled book. The original spiral form'of the binder is so distorted or 5 warped as to each convolution thereof as to bring that portion of each convolution upon which the leaves are mounted into a substantially true circular form and in a plane radially of the axis of the binder wire, so that in turning the leaves 40 they will have no substantial component of movement axially of the binder wire.

Furthermore, in a binder embodying the invenhaving a series of spaced registering openings, therethrough, and a metal binder wire threaded through said openings, said binder wire having a yplurality of convolutions affording a sequence of arcuate portions threaded through the openings 5 in said leaves, and having a portion of each convolution flattened to vafford a sequence of obliquely extending straight portions connecting the ends of adjacent arcuate portions,. said connecting portions being of a length greater than a chord 10 of an arc of said arcuate portions extending between the `ends of adjacent arcuate portions; and in such other novel features of construction and characteristics as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in l5 the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a book embodying therein the binder of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 20'

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary portion of the back of a book embodying a modified form of the binder;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the book shown in Figs. 3 and 4. o

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout th several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the top cover of the book is shown at III, the bottom cover at II and the back board at I2. The covers I0 and II are loosely hinged to the back board I2, so that -when the book is open, said back` board will lie` The book embodies therein collated leaves I3. each having a series of spaced openings Il therein registering with the openings of all the other leaves. Secured to the back board I2 is a transversely arched strip I5 of a length approximating that of the back board. The stn'p I5 may be se- 40 cured to the back board in any desired manner, 'although Il preferably employ a hollow rivet IB permitting pivotal movement ofthe strip. At the end of the strip opposite to the point of its attachment to the back board, is an opening I1 45 by means of which this end of thestrip may be secured in relationto the .back board by a detachable fastener I8 having foldabletongues and known in the trade generally as a McGill fastener.

Threaded through the openings Il of the col 50 lated leaves I3 is a binder wire. This binder wire originally is made in spiral form, but in the assembly of a book by means thereof, is so distorted or warped as to destroy its original -fo'rm and provide therein a sequence of spaced substantially true circular or arcuate portions threaded through the openings in said leaves and upon which the leaves have turning movement, and a sequence of oblique straight portions c onnecting the ends of adjacent circular or arcuate portions adjacent the back board I2 upon which,

Figs. 1 and 2, the oblique straightened portions 20 include about 90 in arc of the original circle of the convolution. During the straightening or flattening operation the ends of the arcuate portions I9 with which the oblique portion is connected have two movements imparted thereto, one outwardly of theaxis of the coil, and one longitudinally or axially thereof, the effect of this compound movement being to distort or warp the arcuate portion in a manner to substantially eliminate the original pitch thereof and thus eliminate the spiral trend of that portion of the binder wire which engages the leaves.

. With this condition, the spacing of adjacent arcuate portions is effected by the obliquely extending connecting portions 20.

Describing the condition geometrically, the oblique portions 20 form a chord of a circle of greater diameter than the original diameter of the convolutions of the spiral. The straightening of the wire, by reason of the increased length of the oblique portions 20, as compared with a chord of the arc of the original spiral so straightened, has a laterally and longitudinally spreading action upon succeeding arcuate portions, but in opposite directions. Thus, each arcuate portion has one end thereof move in one direction by one oblique portion, and the other end thereof moved in the opposite direction by the adjacent oblique portion. This imparts a sort of twist to each arcuate portion which has the effect of bringing it into a substantially true plane radially of the axis of the original spiral. If only 90 in arc be straightened, the arcuate portion I9 will have substantially no axial trend or pitch. If somewhere between 90 and 120 in arc be straightened, absolute accuracy in the elimination of any pitch in the arcuate portions maybe secured. Accuracy, however, is not essential since the size of the openings I4 will allow sufficient play to avoid any noticeable axial component of movement of the leaves when y The straightened or flattened portion 20 of each convolution in addition to distorting or warping the portions of the original spiral so as to form substantially true arcuate portions I9 having substantially no axial pitch, will extend in a plane parallel with the back board I2 and the edge of the leaves I3 adjacent the openings I4 and close to said back board. If no back board be used, the extent of the projection of this portion of the binder wire beyond the edges of the leaves adjacent said openings I4 is minimized.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the construction of the binder wire is identical with that heretofore described. The book cover, however, in this form of the invention is composed of flexible material throughout, the bottom cover IIla, the top cover IIa and the back portion I2a being formed of one sheet of flexible material. The back portion I2a has openings I2b and I2c therethrough adjacent the top cover IIa and the bottom cover Illa, these openings being spaced apart lengthwise of said back portion, the same distance as the openings I4 of the leaves of paper.

In this embodiment of the invention, in addition to the functions above stated, the flattened or straightened portions 20 of the binder wire serve to spread the back portion I2a, since they are exposed outwardly of said back portion and are in close abutting relation thereto. The back portion cannot collapse inwardly of the binder wire.

In the assembled structure as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, a binder is provided having a substantially flat rigid back, notwithstanding that the back portion I 2a may be of highly flexible material.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the binder wire in spiral form is threaded through the openings I4 in the collated leaves I3, by turning a spirally wound wire and the passing of the end of this wire successively through the series of spaced openings I4. When the spiral wire is in the proper position, the portion of each convolution diametrically opposite the portion engaging the sheets, is flattened by means of suitable tools, thus producing the straight obliquely extending connecting portions 20 between succeeding circular or arcuate portions.

This straightening or flattening of the Wire has an elongating effect in the portion of the wire between-succeeding arcuate portions, thus imparting axial movement to the portion of adjacent convolutions of the wire engaged with the leaves, but in opposite directions so as to secure the distorting, warping or twisting effect above referred to.

In all spiral binders, the binding Wire must be of a diameter which will afford space within each convolution to permit the turning of the leaves, and this space affords adequate clearance for the anvil of the straightening tool above referred to.

The manner of binding the book in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 is the same as heretofore described, with the exception that the cover is associatedwith the leaves before the flattening or straightening of the binding strand.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to associate the cover with the leaves, it is merely necessary to slip the strip I5 within what may be termed the coils of the binding strand, and then fasten the free end of this strip to the back board by means of the fastener II.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, rells may be readily employed. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the binding is a permanent binding, a1- though this form of the invention may be used as a reilll for the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In both forms of the invention shown, the oblique straight connecting portions 20 of the binder resist any turning of the binding wire irrespective of the manner -of associating thespiral, which pitchv determines the spacing of.

succeeding spirals from each other. Ordinarily,

in arc which 'are' l the pitch of the convolutions is such as to space l them apart'from about one-quarter to one-half of an inch, andthe axial movement imparted to the end of any convolution will amount to less than one-half of the increase in length oi the attened or straightened portion 20. 'Ihis is due l to the Obliquity of thisportion 20, and the distortion or warping of succeeding circular or arcuate portions I9 thereby. "Ihespacing of succeeding convolutions of the original spiral may be so great as to prevent the securing of the desired nal structure and still have an'operative binder. When attening o r straightening the portions 20, the space between thearcuate portions IS'may be slightly increased as compared withthe spacing of the convolutions of the original spiral, but in threading the spiral through the `openings I4,

Havingdescribed the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:-"

1. A binder embodying therein a v plurality of leaves each having a series of spaced registering openings therethrough, and -a metal binder wire threaded through said openings; said binder'wire having a plurality of convolutions affording a sequence of arcuate portions threaded through,

the openings in said leaves, and having a portion of each convolution iiattened to afford a sequence -of obliquely extending straight portions connecting the ends of adjacent arcuate portions, said connecting portions being of a length greater than a chord.' of an arc of said arcuate .portions extending between the ends of adjacent arcuate portions.

M2. A binder embodying therein a plurality of- Ieaves each having a series of spaced registering openings therethrough, and a metal binder wire the spiral may be expanded so that the subsej quent ilattening or straightening of the portions 20 will merely give a permanent set to the wire binder, the leaves i3 preventing excessive increase of the distance between succeeding arcuate portions I9.. Y

Itis not my intention to limit' the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawing, it being :apare'nt' that such may be varied-without departing from the spirit and scope'of the invention.

ythreaded through said openings, said binder wire having a plurality of convlutions affording a sequence of arcuate portions each being contained within a plane radially of the axis thereof, threaded throughlthe openings in said leaves, and having a portion of each convolution flattened to afford a sequence of obliquely extending straight portions connecting the ends of adjacent arcuate portions, said connecting portions being of a length greater, than a chord of an arc of said arcuate portions extending between the endsof adjacent arcuate portions.

n ROBERT B. M. TAYLOR. Y 

